peer advisorhttp://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu
a service of the student academic resources networkMon, 28 Mar 2016 20:41:23 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5First Generation Student Panel & Discussionhttp://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/03/28/first-generation-student-panel-discussion/
http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/03/28/first-generation-student-panel-discussion/#respondMon, 28 Mar 2016 20:41:23 +0000http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/?p=16099On Thursday March 31st from 4:30 to 6 pm in Albritton 311, Res Life and Student Academic Services will be hosting a First Generation Panel and Discussion which will feature several resources that have been determined by First Generation students as helpful in navigating the difficulties of academic life as well as some students who have experienced and overcame such difficulties. Representatives from the Career Center, Writing Workshop and Student Academic Services will be present. There will be opportunities to ask questions to both students and on-campus resources. Light refreshments will be served.

]]>http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/03/28/first-generation-student-panel-discussion/feed/0How do I get to know my professors?http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/02/24/how-do-i-get-to-know-my-professors/
http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/02/24/how-do-i-get-to-know-my-professors/#respondWed, 24 Feb 2016 22:00:18 +0000http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/?p=16091In high school, if you took a tour of Wesleyan then you likely heard your tour guide talk about how they were great friends with their professors. Maybe they mentioned having lunch with professors, working in labs with faculty, or just visiting office hours regularly.

So, now that you’re at Wesleyan, you may be wondering:

how do I get to know my professors?

1) Office Hours

Going to office hours may be daunting, but it’s also the easiest way to start talking to faculty. You know your professors are going to be there, and they are waiting to chat with YOU. If you want to go but can’t think of any questions to ask in office hours then make a point of writing down questions that you have during class. Have a question that you want to ask but it seems a little off-topic? Office hours!! Struggling to understand a classmates comment because they reference a text you weren’t assigned for the class? Office hours!! Interested in the faculty’s field as a potential major? Office hours!!

Even if you’re really nervous about talking to faculty, make it a goal to visit office hours for each class once a semester.

2) Lunch with Professors

Dean Mike’s office (located on the third floor of south college) gives out vouchers for students and faculty to have a free lunch in the DFC (3rd floor Usdan) together. The voucher program is aimed at increasing faculty-student connections and conversation. If you visited office hours and had a great conversation with the professor (and they seem like they probably have time for lunch) then certainly feel free to ask if you could take them to lunch at the DFC.

Hint: if you’re nervous about having lunch with a professor, see if you can go with another friend from class as well. That way the conversation is dispersed and you may feel less pressure to come up with lots of interesting questions.

To get a lunch voucher: go to the third floor of north college and ask the receptionist by Dean Mike’s office for a lunch voucher to take faculty to the DFC. It’s totally free for you and the professor.

3) Working with Professors in Labs

First, it helps to have taken a class with the professor and have done well in that course. From there, you can explain your interest in the class and ask if there are any opportunities to continue learning about the subject area or continue working with the professor in a lab. Some professors have an application process for lab positions while others offer positions through more casual conversations with students. Asking about working in the lab ensures that the professor knows of your interest and can direct you to the according application processes.

If you haven’t taken any of the professors courses before then know why you’re interested in working in their specific lab. Professors are much more likely to chose students who are interested in the lab work as opposed to students who just want to work in any lab. Also, have a list of professors that you have worked with in the class who can vouch for your work in the classroom. (you can do this by asking a few of your favorite professors – preferably in the same departments as the labs you’re interested in joining – if they would be willing to be references in your search for lab work.)

No idea about lab opportunities available in the department? Ask a few of your favorite professors, visit the department char’s office hours, or get in touch with your department peer advisor to ask!

With summer quickly approaching, many of you may be thinking, “what are you going to do this summer?” Some of you may be inclined to pursue an internship in particular industry or field. Well here are a few tips to help you find an internship.

Drop in hours at the Career Center

The Career Center offers drop in hours for all students in the spring semester. In order to make an appointment, you must call ahead of time. Currently, the drop-in hours are Monday – Friday: 12:30pm – 4:30pm and Tuesday Evenings: 4:30pm – 6:30pm. During these hours, you can workshop your resume/cover letter or get help searching for opportunities!

Make a LinkedIn account

A LinkedIn account basically presents your cover letter and resume to many people. On your profile, you list your past experiences, skills, awards, education and much more. A great feature of this website is your ability to search Wesleyan alumni in particular fields. Through the “Find Alumni” page, you can find alumni in law, theater, academic and much more. Reaching out to alumni in a particular field may help you find an internship or just learn more about a particular occupation.

The Career Drive

Wesleyan’s Career Center post a number of job opportunities, fellowships and internship on their Career Drive. You can access this database through the Career Center website. On the Career Drive, you can read about a number of opportunities for the coming summer and even apply to such positions through the Career Drive.

Asking your parents

This point may seem obvious or inapplicable, but your parents know a lot of people and may be a good resource/connection to get started.

Students normally apply for acceptance to a major in a department or program after the close of Drop/Add in the spring semester of their sophomore year (around February). Exceptions are the College of East Asian Studies (CEAS), College of Letters (COL), and College of Social Studies (CSS) which accept applicants at the end of the first year. You will receive information from your class dean outlining steps and instructions for major declaration.

To ensure major preference in April course registration, students are generally advised to declare their majors by March. If you are worried about not meeting this deadline, you can certainly meet with your class dean!

How do I submit my request electronically?

You are able to submit a major request via EP>Student>Academic Career>Major/Minor/Cert Declaration. You can select your major of interest in the dropdown menu. Clicking the “Submit Major” button sends your request to the department and you will receive an automated email which may include additional information and/or detailed steps to declare the major. The e-portfolio tool does NOT replace any declaration requirements that may also be required.

When will I know if I get admitted to a major?

If the department approves your request, you will be able to view it on the “Major/Minor/Cert Declaration” page in your e-portfolio.

What are my options?

Wesleyan offers 45 majors, 14 minors, and 12 certificates. The complete list can be found here.

Some majors are interdepartmental, including the University Major Program which allows students to design a program that responds to their individual interests and aptitudes. More information can be found here.

If you are still unsure about what you want to pursue academically, the University has compiled a guide to choosing and declaring a major.

What are the requirements to declare a major?

Eligibility requirements are set by the department, program, or college, so you must consult the specific department, program, or college website before declaring a major. You are also strongly encouraged to consult faculty members and Department Peer Advisors. Major requirements are usually explained in terms of necessary credits and necessary courses or distribution of courses.

Yes, but you should consider how this will impact your academic career at Wesleyan. A student with multiple majors may not be able to pursue additional interests within the diverse Wesleyan curriculum. Note that you can only declare a combination of up to three majors, minors, and certificates.

When can I declare a minor or certificate?

Once you have an approved major, you may submit a minor/certificate request via your e-portfolio. You can do this any time before graduation. Many students choose to declare a minor/certificate once they have fulfilled all the requirements. However, by declaring a minor/certificate, you will get assigned an advisor who can help you plan your course of study.

How can I declare a minor or certificate?

Minor and certificate declaration process is also handled through the Electronic Portfolio. You will be able to submit minor/certificate requests by navigating to the “Major/Minor/Cert Declaration” link (under the “Academic Career” bucket). Clicking the “Submit Minor” or “Submit Certificate” button sends a message to the department and you will receive an automated email message. Note that you may be required to submit additional information in order to gain approval from the department.

Note: There will be another meeting in April about the logistics of doing an honors thesis.

]]>http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/02/02/honors-thesis-panel-wednesday-feb-4th-at-4-pm/feed/0Is More Always Better? Thoughts on Taking More Than 4 Credits Per Semesterhttp://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/01/29/is-more-always-better-thoughts-on-taking-more-than-4-credits-per-semester/
http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/01/29/is-more-always-better-thoughts-on-taking-more-than-4-credits-per-semester/#respondFri, 29 Jan 2016 18:42:19 +0000http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/?p=16049Throughout my four years here at Wesleyan, I have always been thinking about how to make my coursework reflect my future interests and goals. With this thought in mind, I worked to create a semester schedule that reflects my academic as well as personal interests. Realistically, some classes require much more work than others, and there is so much that you may want to accomplish in the short amount of time that you have left. Thus, the question that often pops up in the minds of many students appears: Should I take more than four classes this semester?

As mentioned in one of the earlier blog posts, balance is the key to success! Without balance, life as a student can be much more stressful than a life with balance. Here is where the idea of taking more credits comes in. In some cases, students with already heavy semesters take on 5 or more credits with the purpose of creating less work later in their Wesleyan careers. By taking more credits, a student may be placed on the fast track of completing their major as well as graduation credit requirements. Sounds great right! Not necessarily.

If you are considering taking more than 4 credits for a semester you should first ask yourself some questions. How much work is required of you over all of your classes? Will you have enough time to do your due diligence in completing all of your assignments well? What about extracurricular activities? Can you take a minimum of 4 credits and still complete all of my major requirements?

If you are considering or need to take more than 4 credits to complete major requirements, consider balancing your schedule with reading/writing intensive and exam based courses. Also, consider taking classes that you may find easier to balance the more demanding courses. If you are considering taking more than 4 credits to get ahead on the 32 credit graduation requirements, there are physical education, dance, and QAC classes that may not be worth a full credit, but they do help you to increase your credit count faster.

Ultimately, you should do what is best for you and make sure you have an ample work/life balance. Also, should need be, you always have your peer advisors here to help!

Link to post on Balance: http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2015/07/23/balancing-your-first-semester-schedule/

Looking for a summer internship or a full-time job can be a daunting task, especially if you are an international student. All those terms and abbreviations, including, OPT, CPT, and H1-B, might even throw you off. In order to help you navigate the American job market, Student Academic Resources is partnering with the Career Center, Office of International Student Affairs, and PANGEA to organize a series of career workshops designed specifically for international students. There will also be ~free~ food!

Date

Time

Place

Event

Program Content

Thu, Feb 11

5:30 – 7 pm

41 Wyllys, Rm. 112

OPT: Get A Job in the US after Graduation

An attorney will come and discuss the ins and outs of the OPT work authorization process. Event is open to seniors only.

Tue, Feb 16

5:30 – 7 pm

Usdan 108

Working after Wesleyan: Options for International Students

Learn from a panel of young alumni about what it’s like to conduct a US job search and handle the conversations about Visa status with the employer.

Tue, Feb 23

5:30 – 7 pm

Usdan 108

CPT: Internship Search for International Students

Program for underclass students to learn about CPT work authorization directly from Janice Watson (OISA)

Tue, Mar 1

11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Usdan 108

Internships with US Companies

A panel of international students will discuss their internship experience at American companies. Learn more about strategies to find an internship as well as benefits and challenges of working in the US.

Whether you are looking to work in the US, back home, or another country, the Career Center has plenty of resources to support your career and development goals. So, I would encourage you to set up an appointment with one of the career advisors. You can do this by calling 860-685-2180 or stop by the office front desk. More details can be found on the Career Center website.

If you are looking to launch an global career, you might also want to talk to Kate Smith, Associate Director of Fellowships, Internships, and Exchanges at the Center for Global Studies.

We hope you enjoyed your semester abroad! While you are probably happy to be back on campus, you may also be feeling somewhat disoriented. To help you with the transition back to Wes, here are some suggestions for your first couple weeks on campus!

Things to Keep in Mind When you Return to Wesleyan:

It is likely that your academic experience abroad was very different from your academic experiences at Wesleyan. Therefore, if you find yourself incredibly stressed at the beginning of your spring semester, remind yourself that it will be an adjustment, and you will eventually fall back into the normal rhythm of things. Remember, there are many academic resources available on campus that can help with the adjustment!

For those of you who are home already, you may have already begun to experience culture shock. This is normal, but it can also be very frustrating. Even when you return to Wes, you may be bothered by a lot of things that you never noticed prior to going abroad. It can be very helpful to stay in touch with the people on your study abroad program, because they are undoubtedly feeling the same way you are. This may also be an opportunity to become involved with an organization, perhaps relating to hunger, recycling, etc. Eventually the culture shock will wear off, but the lessons you learned while studying abroad will likely stay with you for a long time.

There are probably a lot of people on campus who are excited to see you again! It is wonderful to be back in a place where you recognize so many faces, but it can also feel a little overwhelming. Everyone will ask you how your time abroad was, and while you will have opportunities to have long, one-on-one conversations about your experiences, there will also be a many very quick interactions. Condensing your entire experience into one 30-second anecdote is very challenging, but you may find yourself having to do so a lot, so I would definitely recommend thinking about what you might say in advance. This way, you won’t be caught off guard when ten people stop and ask you about your time abroad on your morning walk to class!

Welcome back to Wes!

]]>http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/01/22/back-from-abroad/feed/0Planning a Productive (and Relaxing) Thanksgivinghttp://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2015/11/18/planning-a-productive-and-relaxing-thanksgiving/
http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2015/11/18/planning-a-productive-and-relaxing-thanksgiving/#respondWed, 18 Nov 2015 16:36:07 +0000http://peeradvisor.blogs.wesleyan.edu/?p=16009Thanksgiving is approaching and, if you’re like most students, you’re definitely ready for a break from classes and homework. However, right after Thanksgiving you probably have several finals, a handful of essays, and maybe even a semester research paper. While it’s tempting to just forget all about school for a few days, with some careful planning you can make sure you get some rest, eat lots of yummy food, and still prepare for the upcoming exam season.

Here are a few tips for staying stress-free from Thanksgiving Break to Exam Week:

1) Before you leave for Thanksgiving Break lay out a schedule of the upcoming month (right through to the end of finals). On your calendar mark:
• All major quizzes and exams
• All papers
• All finals
• All homework assignments due on the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving Break

2) Think about the time you have over Thanksgiving break and aim to pick 3-4 chunks of time (a couple of hours each) that you will dedicate to work. Decide what you want to accomplish in each study session and remember to pack what you will need to finish that work! Knowing when you are working on means that, once you finish your work for the day, you can relax and enjoy your vacation.

3) Pick out the tasks that you want to complete in each chunk of time. This might include:
• The homework you have due on the Monday after Thanksgiving Break (nothing is worse than having a relaxing vacation only to stay up all night on Sunday to be ready for your 9am on Monday).
• Outlines or preliminary research for final papers
• Creating a study guide for upcoming exams
Remember: you can refer to your end-of-semester plan (Step 1) to help you identify the most important assignments to focus on.

4) Consider telling your family about your work plans and try to find quiet places to study. If you have a sibling who is in high-school or college you can set up a study time together to both do work or you can head to your local library for a quiet space away from home. If your family knows that you’re planning to study then they can encourage you to focus when you need to (and maybe even bake you some homemade treats as motivation!).

Planning your work is a great way to get ahead; you don’t need to finish every upcoming assignment but a few well-planned study sessions will go a long way. When you’re done studying for the day make sure to enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Yes, Wesleyan does not have an engineering department, but that does not mean that aspiring engineers must give up on their dreams! In fact, Wesleyan encourages all types of positive intellectual pursuits that students might have and the university has even produced its share of engineers who work all around the world (for starters, just check out this list on Wikipedia).

Some have chosen to study engineering after graduating from Wes. However if you want to get a head start, why not consider the 3-2 engineering program which would allow you to spend 3 years at Wes and then 2 years at a partner university (thus the name)? After finishing the program, students earn two bachelor degrees: a BA from Wes and a BS or BE from an affiliate engineering school.

It is advisable to talk to different science and math faculty members as well. After all, you will need letters of recommendation from them when you submit a formal application early in the spring semester of your junior year.

If I choose to do the engineering program, what should I major at Wes?

Please keep in mind that completion of a Wesleyan major is required by some engineering schools. Even though many students who pursue the dual degree have chosen to declare math or science related major(s), you can technically major in anything you want while at Wes! That said, you need to plan early and actively seek advice from professors because the course requirements for engineering are quite stringent.

What courses should I take at Wes?

Different schools have different requirements and you are strongly advised to consult the respective engineering school webpages. Typically, two semesters of calculus-based physics, one semester of chemistry, and calculus (including multivariable) are part of the necessary preparation.

For your reference, Columbia has compiled a list of required courses and their Wesleyan equivalents in their curriculum guide.

How can I get engineering research experience at Wes?

There are a number of courses, research, and other engineering-related opportunities at Wes. You can find the list here.

Are there any other dual degree engineering programs available for Wes students?

Dartmouth offers a “2-1-1-1” option allowing you to return to Wesleyan for senior year, before finishing the program at Dartmouth

Columbia offers a “4-2” option allowing you to spend four years at Wesleyan before transferring to Columbia